Thermoelectric cooling system

Abstract

A method and system to transfer heat using a cooling medium includes a first cold plate, including a first fluid flow path in thermal communication with a first thermal region of the first cold plate, and a second fluid flow path in fluid communication with the first fluid flow path and in thermal communication with a second thermal region of the first cold plate, and a thermoelectric heat exchanger in thermal communication with the first thermal region of the first cold plate.

What is claimed is: 
     
       1. A system to transfer heat using a cooling medium, comprising:
 a first plate, including:
 a first fluid flow path in thermal communication with a first thermal region of the first plate; and 
 a second fluid flow path in fluid communication with the first fluid flow path and in thermal communication with a second thermal region of the first plate, 
 wherein the first and second thermal regions are arranged along a first longitudinal axis of the first plate, which extends in parallel with a long edge of the first plate, with the first thermal region concentrated proximate to a first short edge of the first plate and with the second thermal region being:
 positioned at a distance from the first thermal region along a length of a single straight fluid flow line, which is connected at opposite ends thereof to the first and second flow paths, respectively, such that the single straight fluid flow line is fluidly interposed between the first and second fluid flow paths, and 
 distributed from a central portion of the first plate toward a second short edge of the first plate, which is opposite the first short edge, the central portion of the first plate being defined between the first and second short edges, and 
 
 wherein the first fluid flow path is contained within a space defined within the first thermal region and extends tortuously along a second axis, which is transversely oriented relative to the first longitudinal axis, and the second fluid flow path is contained within the second thermal region and comprises parallel lines, which are arranged in a side-by-side formation along the first longitudinal axis and which extend along the second axis; and 
 
 a thermoelectric heat exchanger having one side that is disposed to abut only the first thermal region of the first plate so as to be in direct thermal communication with only the first thermal region of the first plate. 
 
     
     
       2. The system of  claim 1 , wherein the first fluid flow path is in fluid communication with a first plate inlet and the second fluid flow path is in fluid communication with a first fluid flow path outlet and a first plate outlet. 
     
     
       3. The system of  claim 1 , further comprising a second plate including third and fourth thermal regions,
 a second side of the thermoelectric heat exchanger, which is opposite the one side of the thermoelectric heat exchanger, being disposed to abut only the third thermal region so as to be in direct thermal communication with only the third thermal region. 
 
     
     
       4. The system of  claim 3 , the second plate including:
 a third fluid flow path in thermal communication with the third thermal region of the second plate, wherein the third thermal region of the second plate is in direct thermal communication with the thermoelectric heat exchanger. 
 
     
     
       5. The system of  claim 4 , wherein:
 wherein the third and fourth thermal regions are arranged along a second longitudinal axis of the second plate, which extends in parallel with a long edge of the second plate, with the third thermal region concentrated proximate to a first short edge of the second plate and with the fourth thermal region being:
 positioned at a distance from the third thermal region along a length of a single straight fluid flow line, which is connected at opposite ends thereof to the third fluid flow path and a fourth fluid flow path, respectively, such that the single straight fluid flow line is fluidly interposed between the third fluid flow path and the fourth fluid flow path, and 
 distributed from a central portion of the second plate toward a second short edge of the second plate, which is opposite the first short edge, the central portion of the second plate being defined between the first and second short edges and wherein: 
 
 the third fluid flow path is contained within a space defined within the third thermal region and extends tortuously along a fourth axis, which is transversely oriented relative to the second longitudinal axis, and 
 the second plate further comprises the fourth fluid flow path, which is contained within the fourth thermal region and comprises parallel lines, which are arranged in a side-by-side formation along the second longitudinal axis and which extend along the fourth axis, and is in thermal communication with the fourth thermal region of the second plate. 
 
     
     
       6. The system of  claim 5 , wherein the third fluid flow path is in fluid communication with a second plate inlet and a second plate outlet and the fourth fluid flow path is in fluid communication with the second plate inlet and the second plate outlet. 
     
     
       7. The system of  claim 3 , wherein the first plate and the second plate are in fluid communication. 
     
     
       8. A method to transfer heat using a cooling medium, comprising:
 providing a first plate with first and second thermal regions; 
 flowing the cooling medium through a first fluid flow path in thermal communication with the first thermal region; 
 flowing the cooling medium through a second fluid flow path from the first fluid flow path and in thermal communication with the second thermal region, 
 wherein the first and second thermal regions are arranged along a first longitudinal axis of the first plate, which extends in parallel with a long edge of the first plate, with the first thermal region concentrated proximate to a first short edge of the first plate and with the second thermal region being:
 positioned at a distance from the first thermal region along a length of a single straight fluid flow line, which is connected at opposite ends thereof to the first and second fluid flow paths, respectively, such that the single straight fluid flow line is fluidly interposed between the first and second fluid flow paths, and 
 distributed from a central portion of the first plate toward a second short edge of the first plate, which is opposite the first short edge, the central portion of the first plate being defined between the first and second short edges, and 
 
 wherein the first fluid flow path is contained within a space defined within the first thermal region and extends tortuously along a second axis, which is transversely oriented relative to the first longitudinal axis, and the second fluid flow path is contained within the second thermal region and comprises parallel lines, which are arranged in a side-by-side formation along the first longitudinal axis and which extend along the second axis; 
 disposing one side of a thermoelectric heat exchanger in abutment with only the first thermal region of the first plate so as to be in direct thermal communication with only the first region; and 
 transferring heat from the first thermal region of the first plate to the thermoelectric heat exchanger. 
 
     
     
       9. The method of  claim 8 , further comprising:
 providing a second plate with third and fourth thermal regions; 
 disposing a second side of the thermoelectric heat exchanger, which is opposite the one side of the thermoelectric heat exchanger, in abutment with only the third thermal region of the second plate so as to be in direct thermal communication with only the third thermal region; and 
 transferring heat from the first thermal region of the first plate to the third thermal region of the second plate via the thermoelectric heat exchanger. 
 
     
     
       10. The method of  claim 9 , further comprising:
 flowing the cooling medium through a third flow path in direct thermal communication with the third thermal region of the second plate. 
 
     
     
       11. The method of  claim 10 , wherein:
 wherein the third and fourth thermal regions are arranged along a second longitudinal axis of the second plate, which extends in parallel with a long edge of the second plate, with the third thermal region concentrated proximate to a first short edge of the second plate and with the fourth thermal region being:
 positioned at a distance from the third thermal region along a length of a single straight fluid flow line, which is connected at opposite ends thereof to the third fluid flow path and a fourth fluid flow path, respectively, such that the single straight fluid flow line is fluidly interposed between the third fluid flow path and the fourth fluid flow path, and 
 distributed from a central portion of the second plate toward a second short edge of the second plate, which is opposite the first short edge, the central portion of the second plate being defined between the first and second short edges and wherein: 
 
 the third fluid flow path is contained within a space defined within the third thermal region and extends tortuously along a fourth axis, which is transversely oriented relative to the second longitudinal axis, and 
 the method further comprises flowing the cooling medium through the fourth fluid flow path, which is contained within the fourth thermal region and comprises parallel lines, which are arranged in a side-by-side formation along the second longitudinal axis and which extend along the fourth axis, and is in thermal communication with the fourth thermal region of the second plate. 
 
     
     
       12. The method of  claim 9 , wherein the first plate and the second plate are in fluid communication. 
     
     
       13. A system to transfer heat using a cooling medium, comprising:
 a first plate, including:
 a first fluid flow path in thermal communication with a first thermal region of the first plate; and 
 a second fluid flow path in fluid communication with the first fluid flow path and in thermal communication with a second thermal region of the first plate, 
 wherein the first and second thermal regions are arranged along a first longitudinal axis of the first plate, which extends in parallel with a long edge of the first plate, with the first thermal region concentrated proximate to a first short edge of the first plate and with the second thermal region being:
 positioned at a distance from the first thermal region along a length of a single straight fluid flow line, which is connected at opposite ends thereof to the first and second flow paths, respectively, such that the single straight fluid flow line is fluidly interposed between the first and second fluid flow paths, and 
 distributed from a central portion of the first plate toward a second short edge of the first plate, which is opposite the first short edge, the central portion of the first plate being defined between the first and second short edges, and 
 
 wherein the first fluid flow path is contained within a space defined within the first thermal region and extends tortuously along a second axis, which is transversely oriented relative to the first longitudinal axis, and the second fluid flow path is contained within the second thermal region and comprises parallel lines, which are arranged in a side-by-side formation along the first longitudinal axis and which extend along the second axis; 
 
 a thermoelectric heat exchanger having one side in thermal communication with only the first thermal region of the first plate; and 
 a first component in thermal communication with only the second thermal region of the first plate. 
 
     
     
       14. The system of  claim 13 , further comprising a second plate including third and fourth thermal regions,
 a second side of the thermoelectric heat exchanger, which is opposite the first side of the thermoelectric heat exchanger, being disposed in thermal communication with only the third thermal region. 
 
     
     
       15. The system of  claim 14 , the system further comprising:
 a second component in thermal communication with the second plate, the second plate including: 
 a third fluid flow path in thermal communication with the third thermal region of the second plate, wherein the third thermal region of the second plate is in direct thermal communication with the thermoelectric heat exchanger; and 
 a fourth fluid flow path in thermal communication with the fourth thermal region of the second plate, 
 wherein the third and fourth thermal regions are arranged along a second longitudinal axis of the second plate, which extends in parallel with a long edge of the second plate, with the third thermal region concentrated proximate to a first short edge of the second plate and with the fourth thermal region being:
 positioned at a distance from the third thermal region along a length of a single straight fluid flow line, which is connected at opposite ends thereof to the third fluid flow path and a fourth fluid flow path, respectively, such that the single straight fluid flow line is fluidly interposed between the third fluid flow path and the fourth fluid flow path, and 
 distributed from a central portion of the second plate toward a second short edge of the second plate, which is opposite the first short edge, the central portion of the second plate being defined between the first and second short edges and wherein: 
 
 the third fluid flow path is contained within a space defined within the third thermal region and extends tortuously along a fourth axis, which is transversely oriented relative to the second longitudinal axis, and 
 the fourth fluid flow path is contained within the fourth thermal region and comprises parallel lines, which are arranged in a side-by-side formation along the second longitudinal axis and which extend along the fourth axis, and the second component is in thermal communication with the fourth thermal region of the second plate. 
 
     
     
       16. The system of  claim 13 , wherein the first component is a generator control unit. 
     
     
       17. The system of  claim 14 , wherein the second component is a converter regulator.